174 VEGETABLE KINGDOM DIAGRAM 10. 



are placed in the midst of a watery pulp. In the strawberry, the 

 seeds are arranged round a fleshy mass, which is eaten, and is 

 therefore called the fruit. 



Sleep of Plants. The life of plants is as interesting to study as 

 that of animals, and on closely observing them, we notice in them 

 a number of curious actions. Thus many plants sleep at night. 

 In the evening the leaflets of the acacia gradually contract two 

 and two together, and the common stalk droops a little. Next 

 morning the stalk rises, and the leaflets unfold again for the whole 

 day. The sleep of clover is equally remarkable. On the approach 

 of evening, the two lateral leaflets of the three which compose its 

 compound leaf fold together, while the middle one folds over the 

 two others, and covers them like a roof. In the morning, the 

 three leaflets unfold afresh. 



